The NOBC was well-represented in the Natchez Classic Master's races this year. Keith Duet, Mark Delaney, Mark Manson, Mike Lew and Randy Legeai made the short trip to the old city on Friday evening, ready for a weekend of challenging racing. We were not to be disappointed. The first stage is the infamous "under the hill" time trial. A deceptively short 2.5 mile affair that features a 45 mph descent followed immediately by a gut-wrenching climb up the bluff from the river. Mike Lew and Keith Duet posted identical
5:00 times in this time trial, along with a couple of other riders, creating a 4-way tie for, I think, third or fourth place. Randy struggled to a 5:06, placing him in 11 th place, followed by Mark Manson who had the shortest time trial of the day. Mark took about two pedal strokes out of the saddle and, due to his immense strength and power, ripped the handlebars right off of his bike, landing in a heap on the ground in front of the officials and breaking the buckle on his shoe as well. He was assigned the slowest time of the field (standard stage race practice), which put him about half a minute down from the leaders. Jerry Morrison posted one of the fastest Masters times of the day, putting him in 2nd or 3rd place. Mark Delaney, riding in the Masters-4 race, posted one of the top times, putting him into 4th position going into the road race. The Senior 1,2,3 riders, on the other hand, ate up the TT course, and one had to scroll way down to about 20th place to find times over 5:00.

After strolling over to the Natchez Bike Shop, about a block from the starting line, and snatching a replacement stem off of Frank Moak's track bike, Mark Manson and the rest of the gang gathered for the 4:30 p.m. start of the road races. The Masters 1,2,3 race was brisk but mostly defensive, and it was clear that most riders were hoping to snag bonuses at the hot spot and finish. Over the course of the 56-mile race, we repeatedly passed, and were passed by, the Cat. 4 race, but ultimately stayed out in front. At the hot spot, things got pretty lively, with lots of riders trying for the three bonuses, but with the centerline rule and narrow road, one had to be at the front long before the 200m mark to get a good shot at the line.
Randy just missed the last bonus, with Keith right behind. Mike Lew and Jerry Morrison had a promising break at one point, but the pack pulled them back in toward the end of the last lap. For most of this race, Mark Manson worked the front keeping the pace up and covering the attacks while Mike and Keith snuggled in mid-pack. As we approched the final turn for the 10-mile run back into Natchez, I noticed my front tire going soft, but tried to ignore it. A wheel chance at this point would have been pointless, as the pace was picking up and people were already starting to think about the inevitable pack sprint to come.

As we came into the final couple of kilometers before the finish, things started to bunch up a bit as usual as the sprinters started fighting for positions near the front. Mike Lew rolled up the right side with me on his wheel with about a kilo to go, leaving me in a good position near the front. As the sprint started to wind up with about 500 meters to go, I saw veteran sprinter Jim Brock moving up the left side and latched onto his wheel. As the pack came over the little hill about 400 m from the finish, the wheel Jim had been on hesitated, leaving Jim committed to a long sprint into the wind. Luckily for me, Jim didn't hesitate, giving me a nice little leadout from which I was able to just barely get third place with about 40 psi left in my front tire. So, we missed out on most of the bonus points in this stage, which we were hoping to get for Keith or Mike to move them ahead of the other riders in the 4-way tie.

The criterium Sunday morning was fast and animated. Early in the race, there was a crash on turn #4 that opened a big gap with all the strong riders in front. A frantic chase ensued and most of the riders who hadn't been too close to the crash eventually made the bridge, but Mark Manson had been right behind the crash and practically stopped. He wasn't able to bridge up to the pack, but finished nonetheless. About 5 or 6 laps from the end, veteran rider Lonnie Kennedy seized the opportunity as the pace eased and launched one of his patented solo breakaway attempts. Lonnie's been racing since at least he Middle Ages (he won the Tour de La back in the '70's), and has a knack for knowing when the riders at the front will hesitate to chase. Sure enough, he had a good gap over the befuddled leaders within a lap, and with the sprint coming up so soon, the pack was indecisive about mounting a sustained chase. Lonnie made it to the finish just a few seconds before the sprinting pack. The NOBC riders finished out of the bonus points but near the front, with Randy taking 5th. On final GC, Keith and Mike were tied for 4th, Randy was 8th and Mark was 19th.

In a very fast Cat 4 Master's race, Mark Delaney rode well, finishing near the front, but also missing out on the bonus points. On final GC, Mark took 4th place. I have a bunch of photos from that race and the Senior 1,2,3 race that I'll try and get onto the website later this week, but I'll leave it to Mark to fill us in on the details.

-Randy.

CATEGORY 1/2/3

Natchez Market Time Trial

1

0:04:43

Gary Zyriek Jr.

Cordova

TN

Herring Gas

2

0:04:44

David Crowe

Athens

GA

Athens Bandag

3

0:04:45

Albert Hull

Clemson

SC

Coastal Cyclists

4

0:04:45

Kristian House

Austin

TX

Violet Crown Sports Assoc.

5

0:04:47

Buster Brown

Fort Smith

AR

BMC/Wal-Mart

6

0:04:48

Chris Alexander

Lafayette

LA

Herring Gas

7

0:04:48

Trent Rives

Baton Rouge

LA

Herring Gas

8

0:04:48

Jack Ditt

Shreveport

LA

Team La Sport

9

0:04:50

Chris Graham

Oklahoma City

OK

OBRU

10

0:04:51

Brandon Cowart

Kingwood

TX

GCCA

11

0:04:52

Max Miley

Allen

TX

Matrix

12

0:04:53

Andrew Johnston

Decatur

GA

Atlanta Cycling

13

0:04:53

Iain J. Cameron

Little Rock

AR

Boston Mountain Classic

14

0:04:54

Mike Stewart

Fort Smith

AR

BMC/Wal-Mart

15

0:04:54

Brad Anderson

Memphis

TN

Memphis Motor Works/ACCM

16

0:04:55

Dale Suttle

Memphis

TN

Memphis Motor Werks

17

0:04:55

Frank Moak

Natchez

MS

Herring Gas

18

0:04:59

Jason Jones

Marietta

GA

Colorado X-Press

19

0:04:59

Steven Ward

Jacksonville

AR

Navigators

20

0:04:59

Mike Lew

Natchez

MS

Herring Gas

21

0:05:00

Daniel Rogers

Wichita Falls

TX

Hotter 'n Hell

22

0:05:00

Adam Hamza

Houston

TX

Healthsouth/GCCA

23

0:05:00

Pat McCarty

Allen

TX

Matrix

24

0:05:00

Tim Smith

Mobile

AL

Bay Area Racing Club

25

0:05:01

Shan Smith

Tylertown

MS

JMC

26

0:05:01

Keith Duet

Covington

LA

New Orleans Bicycle Club

27

0:05:01

Edward Chapman

Mobile

AL

Alabama Wheelmen Velosport

28

0:05:02

Christopher Stokes

University

MS

Outdoors Inc.

29

0:05:02

Joey D'Antoni

New Orleans

LA

Sir Speedy/Body Masters

30

0:05:04

Mike Sinkeule

Shreveport

LA

Team La Sport

31

0:05:06

Michael Scott

Austin

TX

Bicycle Sport Shop

32

0:05:06

Brett Faulk

New Iberia

LA

Sir Speedy - Body Masters

33

0:05:07

Ed Moon

Decatur

GA

Atlanta Cycling

34

0:05:07

Jason Richardson

Grand Ridge

FL

ABP Velo

35

0:05:08

Aaron Anderson

Memphis

TN

Memphis Motorworks

36

0:05:08

Jason Hurling

Breauxbridge

LA

Sir Speedy

37

0:05:10

Kenny Bellau

New Orleans

LA

Herring Gas

38

0:05:10

Brett Naff

Huntsville

AL

Auburn Flyers

39

0:05:11

David Edwards

Port Gibson

MS

Natchez Bicycle Club

40

0:05:13

Eric Randolph

Houston

TX

Northwest Cycling

41

0:05:13

David Alexander

Baton Rouge

LA

Red Stick Racers - Tuffys

42

0:05:13

Jeffrey Burnett

Grapevine

TX

Mirage

43

0:05:14

Norman Nolan

Baton Rouge

LA

Red Stick Racers

44

0:05:15

Calvin Partlow

Ft Walton Beach

FL

Emerald Coast Cyclists

45

0:05:15

Jeffrey Bradley

Birmingham

AL

Healthlink

46

0:05:15

Eric Warnsman

Houston

TX

GCCA/HEALTHSOUTH-WHOLEFOODS

47

0:05:15

Shawn Casey

Rockwell

TX

Herring Gas

48

0:05:16

Jeremy Galloway

Fort Smith

AR

BMC/Wal-Mart

49

0:05:16

Michael McCarty

Allen

TX

Matrix

50

0:05:16

Tommy Wilson

Tampa

FL

bbb/ticycles

51

0:05:19

Scot Orgish

Houston

TX

Northwest Cycling Club

52

0:05:19

Russell Cook

Baton Rouge

LA

Red Stick Racers

53

0:05:19

Arvana Jarrard

Austin

TX

Arlington Velo

54

0:05:25

Oscar Celis

houston

TX

wolf pack

55

0:05:26

John Simpson

Mobile

AL

Bay City Breakers

56

0:05:29

Robert Fromin

Cordova

TN

Memphis Motor Werks

57

0:05:29

Steven Bollenbaugh

Houston

TX

Northwest

58

0:05:42

John Balazs

Panama City

FL

Red Hills Racing Club

59

0:06:38

Charles Davis

Metairie

LA

Saturn/NOBC

Herring Gas Road Race

1

2:57:47

Albert Hull

Clemson

SC

Coastal Cyclists

2

2:58:01

Trent Rives

Baton Rouge

LA

Herring Gas

3

2:58:03

David Crowe

Athens

GA

Athens Bandag

4

2:58:11

Dale Suttle

Memphis

TN

Memphis Motor Werks

5

2:58:12

Mike Stewart

Fort Smith

AR

BMC/Wal-Mart

6

2:58:13

Brandon Cowart

Kingwood

TX

GCCA

7

2:58:21

Brad Anderson

Memphis

TN

Memphis Motor Works/ACCM

8

3:00:05

Andrew Johnston

Decatur

GA

Atlanta Cycling

9

3:00:09

Buster Brown

Fort Smith

AR

BMC/Wal-Mart

10

3:00:12

Joey D'Antoni

New Orleans

LA

Sir Speedy/Body Masters

11

3:00:09

Robert Fromin

Cordova

TN

Memphis Motor Werks

12

3:00:09

Jack Ditt

Shreveport

LA

Team La Sport

13

3:01:18

Max Miley

Allen

TX

Matrix

14

3:01:18

Iain J. Cameron

Little Rock

AR

Boston Mountain Classic

15

3:01:39

Pat McCarty

Allen

TX

Matrix

16

3:01:39

Daniel Rogers

Wichita Falls

TX

Hotter 'n Hell

17

3:01:39

Edward Chapman

Mobile

AL

Alabama Wheelmen Velosport

18

3:01:39

Arvana Jarrard

Austin

TX

Arlington Velo

19

3:01:39

Frank Moak

Natchez

MS

Herring Gas

20

3:01:39

Norman Nolan

Baton Rouge

LA

Red Stick Racers

21

3:01:39

Eric Warnsman

Houston

TX

GCCA/HEALTHSOUTH-WHOLEFOODS

22

3:01:39

Tim Smith

Mobile

AL

Bay Area Racing Club

23

3:01:39

Jason Richardson

Grand Ridge

FL

ABP Velo

24

3:01:39

Kenny Bellau

New Orleans

LA

Herring Gas

25

3:01:39

Aaron Anderson

Memphis

TN

Memphis Motorworks

26

3:01:39

Steven Ward

Jacksonville

AR

Navigators

27

3:01:39

Calvin Partlow

Ft Walton Beach

FL

Emerald Coast Cyclists

28

3:01:39

Jason Jones

Marietta

GA

Colorado X-Press

29

3:01:39

Kristian House

Austin

TX

Violet Crown Sports Assoc.

30

3:01:39

Ed Moon

Decatur

GA

Atlanta Cycling

31

3:08:21

Keith Duet

Covington

LA

New Orleans Bicycle Club

32

3:08:27

Chris Alexander

Lafayette

LA

Herring Gas

33

3:11:42

Brett Faulk

New Iberia

LA

Sir Speedy - Body Masters

*** DNF riders *** The riders with times of 0:00:00 didn't finish the RR. The riders with times did.They got DNF from the Criterium.

34

0:00:00

Mike Lew

Natchez

MS

Herring Gas

35

0:00:00

Charles Davis

Metairie

LA

Saturn/NOBC

36

0:00:00

Shan Smith

Tylertown

MS

JMC

37

0:00:00

Jeffrey Burnett

Grapevine

TX

Mirage

38

0:00:00

Boyd Atherton

Arlington

TX

Arlington Velo

39

0:00:00

John Balazs

Panama City

FL

Red Hills Racing Club

40

0:00:00

Scott Carroll

Little Rock

Ar

Fayetteville Wheelmen

41

0:00:00

Christopher Stokes

University

MS

Outdoors Inc.

42

0:00:00

Tommy Wilson

Tampa

FL

bbb/ticycles

43

3:00:09

Brett Naff

Huntsville

AL

Auburn Flyers

44

3:00:09

Gary Zyriek Jr.

Cordova

TN

Herring Gas

45

3:01:39

John Simpson

Mobile

AL

Bay City Breakers

46

3:01:39

Michael Scott

Austin

TX

Bicycle Sport Shop

47

3:01:39

Mike Sinkeule

Shreveport

LA

Team La Sport

48

3:01:39

Jeffrey Bradley

Birmingham

AL

Healthlink

49

3:01:39

Chris Graham

Oklahoma City

OK

OBRU

50

3:01:39

David Alexander

Baton Rouge

LA

Red Stick Racers - Tuffys

51

3:01:44

Jeremy Galloway

Fort Smith

AR

BMC/Wal-Mart

52

3:02:03

Eric Randolph

Houston

TX

Northwest Cycling

53

3:08:21

Adam Hamza

Houston

TX

Healthsouth/GCCA

54

3:08:28

Shawn Casey

Rockwell

TX

Herring Gas

55

3:11:42

Jason Hurling

Breauxbridge

LA

Sir Speedy

56

3:18:03

Steven Bollenbaugh

Houston

TX

Northwest

57

3:18:03

Scot Orgish

Houston

TX

Northwest Cycling Club

58

3:18:03

David Edwards

Port Gibson

MS

Natchez Bicycle Club

59

3:26:23

Russell Cook

Baton Rouge

LA

Red Stick Racers

60

3:26:33

Michael McCarty

Allen

TX

Matrix

Western Auto Criterium

1

1:07:13

Buster Brown

Fort Smith

AR

BMC/Wal-Mart

2

1:07:39

Jason Jones

Marietta

GA

Colorado X-Press

3

1:07:41

Kristian House

Austin

TX

Violet Crown Sports Assoc.

4

1:07:45

Max Miley

Allen

TX

Matrix

5

1:07:45

Brad Anderson

Memphis

TN

Memphis Motor Works/ACCM

6

1:07:45

Trent Rives

Baton Rouge

LA

Herring Gas

7

1:07:45

Andrew Johnston

Decatur

GA

Atlanta Cycling

8

1:07:46

Brandon Cowart

Kingwood

TX

GCCA

9

1:07:46

Mike Stewart

Fort Smith

AR

BMC/Wal-Mart

10

1:07:46

Jack Ditt

Shreveport

LA

Team La Sport

11

1:07:55

Ed Moon

Decatur

GA

Atlanta Cycling

12

1:07:55

Chris Alexander

Lafayette

LA

Herring Gas

13

1:07:55

David Crowe

Athens

GA

Athens Bandag

14

1:07:55

Frank Moak

Natchez

MS

Herring Gas

15

1:08:26

Pat McCarty

Allen

TX

Matrix

16

1:08:46

Dale Suttle

Memphis

TN

Memphis Motor Werks

17

1:08:56

Albert Hull

Clemson

SC

Coastal Cyclists

18

1:09:03

Tim Smith

Mobile

AL

Bay Area Racing Club

19

1:09:03

Iain J. Cameron

Little Rock

AR

Boston Mountain Classic

20

1:09:03

Brett Faulk

New Iberia

LA

Sir Speedy - Body Masters

21

1:09:03

Edward Chapman

Mobile

AL

Alabama Wheelmen Velosport

22

1:09:03

Robert Fromin

Cordova

TN

Memphis Motor Werks

23

1:09:03

Kenny Bellau

New Orleans

LA

Herring Gas

24

1:09:03

Norman Nolan

Baton Rouge

LA

Red Stick Racers

25

1:09:03

Daniel Rogers

Wichita Falls

TX

Hotter 'n Hell

26

1:09:03

Steven Ward

Jacksonville

AR

Navigators

27

1:10:20

Arvana Jarrard

Austin

TX

Arlington Velo

28

1:10:20

Joey D'Antoni

New Orleans

LA

Sir Speedy/Body Masters

29

1:10:20

Keith Duet

Covington

LA

New Orleans Bicycle Club

30

1:10:20

Eric Warnsman

Houston

TX

GCCA/HEALTHSOUTH-WHOLEFOODS

31

1:10:20

Calvin Partlow

Ft Walton Beach

FL

Emerald Coast Cyclists

32

1:10:20

Aaron Anderson

Memphis

TN

Memphis Motorworks

33

1:10:20

Jason Richardson

Grand Ridge

FL

ABP Velo

*** DNF riders ***With all due respect, the rain at the start took out quite a few riders.